Category Archives: Uncategorised

THE government claimed to be under pressure to curb citizenship rights for Irish-born children because of concerns over international terrorism, newly released Cabinet records have revealed. In 2004, the government held a referendum to end automatic citizenship rights to anyone born in Ireland, a decision that has grown increasingly controversial in recent months. Cabinet records… Read More »

A selection of submissions for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe ahead of Budget 2018: Among the most interesting parts: * The minister was told the “opportune time” had arrived to double betting tax amid ongoing pressure to increase tax on gambling. Mr Donohoe doubled the rate from one to two percent in this year’s budget and… Read More »

THE Department of Finance was worried it couldn’t even publish an anonymised list of pensions for former ministers and officeholders because it would be too easy to identify them. Each year, the Department had printed a list of former taoisigh, ministers, presidents, along with other ex-officeholders and how much they received in their annual pension.… Read More »

FINANCE Minister Paschal Donohoe was on the verge of sanctioning a €10 increase in carbon tax only for a later change of mind, departmental documents show. A pre-budget submission for Mr Donohoe prepared by his officials reveal that the minister had been preparing to sign off on the tax hike in advance of Budget 2019.… Read More »

THE government considered a special tax regime that could have allowed thousands of highly paid executives in large multinational companies to pay a flat rate of just 30% in the tax. The plan – which was designed to be one of the most generous tax incentives in Europe – was abandoned however, following advice from… Read More »

CHILDREN’S Minister Katherine Zappone was advised to get an Italian translation of “Is that a yes Pope Francis?” before presenting him with a letter about the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. The Department also debated whether to refer to the Pontiff as Pope Francis or to use a more formal title like “your holiness” or… Read More »

THE IDA prepared a series of briefing documents for their executives after multinational companies raised concerns over “constraints” and “clear market failures” in the residential property market. Executives from the IDA were advised to say that the country’s housing shortage was “not unique to Ireland” in the guidance documents. The investment agency prepared a series… Read More »

SEVEN former HSE consultants and staff have received lump sum retirement pay-outs of more than €300,000 over the past three years. The enormous golden handshakes are part of close to €19 million in lump sums paid to high-earning former consultants and senior officials from the health service since 2016. Altogether, 80 former HSE staff qualified… Read More »

THE former Lord Mayor of Cork flew to Rome for a “Papal audience” on a trip funded by the taxpayer earlier this year. Fianna Fáil’s Tony Fitzgerald travelled with his wife Georgina to the Eternal City to meet with Pope Francis where they gifted the Pontiff a book of photography of Cork City and a… Read More »

TRANSPORT minister Shane Ross and his advisers believed anxieties over a revamp of Dublin’s bus network were being deliberately stirred up for political reasons. The Minister for Transport – who was later accused of having disowned the capital’s BusConnects plan – was under “considerable pressure” over the redesigned network according to internal emails. Records released… Read More »